Continuous open width washer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for the continuous washing of a running open width textile web. Idler and driven rolls guide the web in and out of a tank containing washing liquid so that the web follows a plurality of spaced parallel paths. Mounted in the tank below the liquid level are rotary impellers located on opposite sides of the web adjacent to the web paths. The impellers are separately driven and, when rotated, deliver pulses of liquid against opposite sides of the web providing a highly agitated washing action independent of the speed of the web.

0 United States Patent 1151 3,640,101 Wilcox [451 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] CONTINUOUS OPEN WIDTH WASHER Primary Examiner-Richard F. Moore [72] Inventor. Harold R. Wilcox, Maynard, Mass. mmmey Morse Altman & Oates [73] Assignee: Riggs 8: Lombard, lnc., Lowell, Mass. [22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1969 [57] ABS CT An apparatus is provided for the continuous washing of a [2]] Appl' 815329 running open width textile web. Idler and driven rolls guide the web in and out of a tank containing washing liquid so that 52 US. Cl ..68/l75 the web plurality Spaced Parallel Paths- Mwmed s11 1111.131. ..D06i 17/10 in the tank beldw the quid level may i'Pellers mated 581 Field of Search ..68/l75 53 134 54 sides web web Pam The impellers are separately driven and, when rotated, deliver pul- 56 R i ses of liquid against opposite sides of the web providing a l 1 e erences cued highly agitated washing action independent of the speed of the UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,406,542 0/ 968 Kiisters et ai ..68/ 175 10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 8 I972 FIG.2

INVENTOR. ROLD R. WI LCOX ATTORNEYS CONTINUOUS OPEN WIDTH WASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to textile washing equipment and more particularly is directed towards a washing apparatus'for a running textile web in which the washing action is independent of the speed of the web.

2. History of the Prior Art Various types of textile washing machines have been available for use in the washing of a running textile web. However, most machines of this type have been unsatisfactory, particularly in connection with the washing of fragile materials such as knit goods and the like. Many washers employ pumps which deliver jets or streams of water against the web usually moving under a relatively high degree of longitudinal tension. Washers of this type are generally quite expensive and are not particularly suitable for processing fragile materials. Other washers guide the web along tortuous paths through the washing liquid and the washing effect is related to the speed of the web, with the result that the washing action drops off as the speed of the web is reduced. Here again such machines are not suitable for washing fragile materials.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in washing machines for running open width cloth webs. Another object of this invention is to provide washing machines adapted to handle fragile materials wherein the speed of the web is independent of the washing action. A further object of this invention is to provide a lowcost washing machine of simple mechanical design that may be readily incorporated in existing equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a continuous open width washer comprising a tank adapted to contain a quantity of washing liquid, a plurality of spaced rolls adapted to guide an open width running fabric web into and out of the tank along substantially spaced parallel paths, a plurality of rotary impellers mounted to the tank below the liquid level and adjacent the fabric paths whereby, upon rotation of the impellers, liquid will be pulsed against the running fabric at a rate independent of cloth travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view in side elevation of a continuous open width washer made according to the invention, and,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I of the drawings the characterlO generally indicates an open width washer unit comprised of a tank 12 adapted to contain a quantity of washing liquid sometimes referred to as liquor and through which a running open width web 14 is fed. The web 14 may be any one of a variety of materials, such as woven or unwoven fabrics or knit material. The web 14 is guided into and out of the tank along reversing parallel vertical paths spaced apart by means of a set of upper rolls 16, 18, 20 and 22 and a set of lower rolls 24, 26 and 28. The number of upper and lower rolls may be increased or decreased, depending upon how many passes of the web through the liquor are desired.

In the preferred form of this invention, the upper rolls are tension-free driven rolls of the sort disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,40l .541 and the lower rolls are idling flotation rolls, also as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,541. The lower submerged rolls are arranged to substantially float in the liquor to reduce frictional bearing drag. The driven upper rolls are mounted in double bearings with one bearing on each double bearing driven by means of a variable speed control mechanism so that hearing drive is reduced to zero. A slight impositive forward urgeis given to each roll while a slight upward and downward tension is given to the web by the zero weight submerged rolls. The arrangement is particularly useful for advancing a fragile web over and under a series of rolls and a liquid washing or dyeing tank, for example, insofar as it permits handling of materials having high stretch strain ratios such as knit goods and the like. For stronger materials conventional idler rolls or conventional driven rolls may be employed.

Mounted in the tank, below the surface of the liquor, is a plurality of rotary impellers 30, 32, 34 and 36. In the preferred embodiment of the invention each of the impellers 30, 32, etc., is comprised of a central roll body 38 of cylindrical configuration and driven by means independent of the rolls 16, I8, 20 and 22. Fixed to the outer cylindrical'surface of the core 38 are relatively small diameter bars 40 spaced apart evenly about the core and extending lengthwise of the core body for a distance at least equal to the width of the web 14. The small bars 40 may be welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the core 38 and are spaced angularly apart to form lengthwise recesses 42 spaced about the impeller. In this fashion, when the impeller is rotated, water or other liquid in the tank willbe thrown in pulses against the web which is moving in close proximity to the impellers.

It will be noted in the illustrated embodiment that the impellers are located in vertical banks one above another adjacent the path of travel of the web and arranged in cooperating pairs, one of each pair being on either side of the path of travel of the web. For example, the impellers 30 and 34 are located on opposite sides of the web and preferably are rotated in opposite directions, the direction preferably being in the direction of movement of the web. The impellers 30 and 34, for example, are mounted to be driven clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, and web 14 as it passes between these impellers will be running downwardly. In this fashion the liquor will be pulsed against opposite sides of the web and its direction of movement corresponds with the direction of movement of the web such as to aid in the movement of the web in the longitudinal direction.

In practice, it is desirable that the impellers of each pair be slightly out of phase with one another so that a pulse of liquor from one impeller will strike one side of the web to be followed shortly thereafter by a pulse on the opposite side in alternating succession. This is illustrated in connection with impellers 30 and 34 where it will be seen that the small rods of the impeller 30 are slightly out of angular phase with the rods on the impeller 34. The arrangement produces a highly agitated washing action which is independent of the speed of the web. This permits the passing of fragile materials such as knit fabrics which normally must be moved at relatively slow speeds. Such materials will receive a thorough washing action without damage since there is no contact between the web and the impellers and the material will not be stretched.

The impellers may be set apart to allow a cloth passage of :92 inches without contact. Preferably the impellers are mounted for adjustment to or away from the web so as to permit changing the clearance with the web or permit a partial meshing of adjacent impellers. This may be achieved by mounting the ends of the impellers in horizontal slots. Preferably the drive for the cloth and the drive for the impellers are independent of one another and are variable to permit adjustment of the system to obtain the best results in accordance with the characteristics of various types of fabrics. The impellers may be in the illustrated form in which the small bars are mounted to a cylindrical roller or the impellers may be provided by the use of other types of protrusions or corrugated surfaces may be formed about the impeller.

Mounted opposite the first and last sets of impellers are fixed baffles 44 and 46, spaced slightly from the surface of the web, these baffles being provided to furnish a reflecting surface for the pulses of liquor delivered by the first and last sets of impellers. While the baffles, as shown, are corrugated acceptable results are obtainable using flat baffles or by locating the impellers in such a position that the end walls of the tank may be employed.

Referring now to H0. 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of the invention and in this embodiment upper and lower rolls 16, 18, 20, 22', 24', 26 and 28' are smaller in diameter than the corresponding rolls of the H0. 1 embodiment. in FIG. 2 impellers 30', 32, 34, 36', etc., are employed in a similar arrangement. However, in the FIG. 2 embodiment the smaller diameter rolls 16 through 28 carry web 14 into contact with every other impeller such, for example, 30 and 36'. With this arrangement a savings is obtained by using smaller diameter rollers without any appreciable effect on the web 14. While the impellers 30' and 36', for example, contact the web the liquid within the tank furnishes a fluid bearing surface between the impeller elements and the web to prevent damage to the web.

The washing apparatus of this invention provides a highly effective washing action without damage to the cloth and the washing action is independent of cloth speed. The impellers which furnish the agitation can operate with very low-power requirements and in one particular embodiment of the invention all of the impellers were driven by means of a l-hp. motor. The drive system for the impellers may be by means of a simple chain and sprocket drive or by Vee belt drive or the like.

Having thus described the invention whatl claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A continuous washer for open width webs, comprising a. container means for a quantity ofliquid,

b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid,

0. at least a pair of power-driven rotary and generally cylindrical rigid impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel of said web, the axes of said impellers extending transversely ofsaid web,

d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers.

2. A continuous washer according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation alternately above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths, the axes of said rollers being parallel to the axes of said impellers.

3. A continuous washer according to claim 2 wherein said impellers are driven independently of said web.

4. A continuous washer according to claim 1 wherein each impeller is comprised of a cylindrical roll body and a plurality of evenly spaced parallel bars fixed to the outer cylindrical surface of said body and extending lengthwise thereof.

6. A continuous washer according to claim 1 including a baffle mounted adjacent the path of travel of said web opposite at least one of said impellers said baffle being formed with transverse corrugations parallel to said impellers.

7. A continuous washer for open width webs comprising,

a. container means for a quantity of liquid,

b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid,

c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel on said web,

d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers,

e. said impellers being rotated in opposite directions and in the direction of movement of said web.

8. A continuous washer for open width webs comprising a. container means for a quantity of liquid,

b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid,

c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel of said web,

d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers,

said guide means including rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths,

f. the rollers below the surface of said liquid being flotation rollers.

9. A continuous washer according to claim 8 wherein the rollers above the surface of said liquid are dragless driven rollers.

10. A continuous washer for open width webs, comprising a. container means for a quantity of liquid,

b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid,

c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one each side of the path of travel of said web,

d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers,

. said guide means including rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths,

. the diameter of said rollers not exceeding the diameter of said impellers and said web being guided into contact with at least some of said impellers. 

1. A continuous washer for open width webs, comprising a. container means for a quantity of liquid, b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid, c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary and generally cylindrical rigid impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel of said web, the axes of said impellers extending transversely of said web, d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers.
 2. A continuous washer according to claim 1 wherein said guide means includes rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation alternately above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths, the axes of said rollers being parallel to the axes of said impellers.
 3. A continuous washer according to claim 2 wherein said impellers are driven independently of said web.
 4. A continuous washer according to claim 1 wherein each impeller is comprised of a cylindrical roll body and a plurality of evenly spaced parallel bars fixed to the outer cylindrical surface of said body and extending lengthwise thereof.
 5. A continuous washer according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of said rollers is greater than the diameter oF said impellers and said web is maintained out of contact with all of said impellers.
 6. A continuous washer according to claim 1 including a baffle mounted adjacent the path of travel of said web opposite at least one of said impellers said baffle being formed with transverse corrugations parallel to said impellers.
 7. A continuous washer for open width webs comprising, a. container means for a quantity of liquid, b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid, c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel on said web, d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers, e. said impellers being rotated in opposite directions and in the direction of movement of said web.
 8. A continuous washer for open width webs comprising a. container means for a quantity of liquid, b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid, c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one on each side of the path of travel of said web, d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers, e. said guide means including rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths, f. the rollers below the surface of said liquid being flotation rollers.
 9. A continuous washer according to claim 8 wherein the rollers above the surface of said liquid are dragless driven rollers.
 10. A continuous washer for open width webs, comprising a. container means for a quantity of liquid, b. guide means for passing said web in open width form through said liquid, c. at least a pair of power-driven rotary impellers disposed in spaced parallel relation below the surface of said liquid and one each side of the path of travel of said web, d. each of said impellers being formed with spaced protuberances, whereby liquid will be pulsed against said web upon rotation of said impellers, e. said guide means including rollers mounted in spaced parallel relation above and below the surface of said liquid for guiding said web into and out of said liquid along reversing spaced parallel paths, f. the diameter of said rollers not exceeding the diameter of said impellers and said web being guided into contact with at least some of said impellers. 